Related Items

Expand to International Markets

Page Content

​​​Looking to export or expand your reach overseas? Maryland is a good launchpad with its proximity to Washington D.C.'s international community, access to three international airports and a major port for shipping. Read more about export opportunities below or call DBED's International Investment and Trade Office at (410) 767-0685 to learn how to grow your Maryland business overseas.

Office of International Investment and Trade

The Maryland Office of International Investment and Trade (OIIT) provides support to Maryland companies planning to enter new foreign markets or advance their export sales in their companies' existing foreign markets. The team includes foreign representatives in China, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, France, UAE, Brazil, Israel, India and Nigeria who can provide advice on exporting. Services that the office provides include:

ExportMD program

Representative program

Trade mission support for delegations

Pathfinder program for business representation at international trade shows

Consultant services

​Market and foreign partner research

Advisory services in market entry and business development plans

Event promotion and planning​

ExportMD Program

The ExportMD Program helps to offset some of the costs of marketing internationally for Maryland's small and mid-sized companies. Maryland companies that receive an ExportMD Award are eligible for up to $5,000 in reimbursement for expenses associated with an international marketing project and can also receive up to 40 hours of assistance from DBED's trade experts located in 10 countries around the globe.

Eligible expenses: Any expenses related to an international marketing initiative including trade show fees, airfare, translation of brochures and web site development.

Qualifications:

Have business operations in Maryland and be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation;

Has been in existence for at least one year;

Has not received an ExportMD Award in the last 2 years;

Is a “small business” as defined by the SBA**; and

Is planning an international business initiative to commence and conclude within six months of the application deadline—at the very latest.

​Applications: Contact OIIT at (410) 767-0685​ and tell us about your international marketing plan. DBED will help you to fill out the application. Please include your plan's budget estimates.

Deadlines:DBED accepts ExportMD grant applications from qualifying companies on a bi-monthly basis. Application deadlines are: February 1, April 1, June 1, August 1, October 1 and December 1.

​**Companies must not exceed the employee number or annual sales figure thresholds as set by the U.S. Small Business Administration (as determined by an ExportMD applicant’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry code, and including any affiliated companies, such as “parent” businesses and subsidiaries—of either).

Companies that do not qualify for the ExportMD program can still receive other forms of assistance through our office. Please contact the office to learn what resource may be available to your firm.

Export Assistance Resources

Need some help with exports or overseas expansion? These organizations have several combined years of experience helping companies to expand their global footprint.

U.S. Export-Import Bank An independent federal government agency, the U.S. Ex-Im Bank assists companies in financing U.S. goods and services exports to international markets.

Maryland Department of Agriculture The Maryland Department of Agriculture's (MDA's) International Marketing Program brings the state's diverse agriculture and seafood to the world. Using its network of domestic and worldwide partnerships, MDA's international specialists build and maintain relationships with overseas buyers, conduct research and provide technical advice.

Maryland/Israel Development Center Creates jobs in Maryland and Israel by promoting trade, joint ventures and investment between businesses and research institutions. Staffed by professionals in Maryland and Israel, the MIDC identifies market and technology opportunities, and introduces Maryland and Israeli executives, entrepreneurs and investors to each other to negotiate business agreements.

U.S. Export Assistance Center, Department of Commerce Export.gov brings together resources from across the U.S. Government to assist American businesses in planning their international sales strategies and helping them to succeed in today's global marketplace. From market research to export finance information, Export.gov helps American exporters navigate the international sales process.

World Bank The World Bank lends and invests billions of dollars in developing countries every year. This constant stream of funds is used to buy goods, consulting services, and civil works projects that contribute to economic development in those countries. Learn how to do business with this organization.

World Trade Center InstituteProvides international business training, customized consulting and global networking. Also helps companies to explore new partnerships, and expand international sales and trade.

Maryland's Foreign-Trade Zones

A Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is a designated area within U.S. borders that promotes domestic employment and helps U.S. firms compete in the global marketplace. An FTZ is located in or near a U.S. Customs port of entry, where foreign and domestic merchandise is generally considered to be international commerce. Foreign or domestic merchandise may enter this enclave without a formal customs entry or the payment of custom duties or government excise taxes.

Foreign-Trade Zone procedures allow domestic activity involving foreign items to take place as if it were outside U.S. Customs territory. Duty-free treatment is accorded items that are re-exported and duty payment is deferred on items sold in the U.S. market, thus offsetting Customs advantages available to overseas producers who compete with producers located in the United States.

A site that has been granted zone status may not be used for zone activity until the site or a section thereof has been separately approved for FTZ activation by local U.S. Customs officials, and the zone activity remains under the supervision of Customs. A subzone is a special-purpose zone, usually at a manufacturing plant.

FTZ sites and facilities remain within the jurisdiction of local, state or federal governments or agencies. Click on the links below for additional information on the state's four foreign trade zones, or read DBED's Foreign-Trade Zone profile​ including acreage, sites and contacts.

Baltimore #74 The City of Baltimore's Foreign-Trade Zone, FTZ #74, was established in 1982 and has been continually expanded and modified due to various requests for additional space. Zone space, originally 60,000 square feet, currently contains more than 1,800 acres at 25 sites within the City of Baltimore, Harford, Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties.

As documented in the 2011 Annual Report, FTZ #74 provided more than 1,546 jobs and served 144 business firms during the fiscal year, and handled more than 18,000 different commodities from over 31 different countries of origin. More than $10 billion worth of goods passed through the Baltimore FTZ during the 2011 fiscal year and contributed over $184million in exports for Baltimore City.

BWI Airport #73 The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) Foreign-Trade Zone specializes in airfreight and other high value goods. It permits multiple operators and consists of five sites that include both developed and undeveloped parcels.

Prince George's County #63 The Prince George's County Foreign-Trade Zone consists of approximately76 acres on two sites. Both are near three major ports of entry: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, the Port of Baltimore and Washington Dulles International Airport. The zone's central location in the Northeast Corridor plus its highly developed transportation network and close proximity to Washington, D.C. provide efficient overnight access to markets in the eastern United States.

The zone is presently inactive; however, the county has applied to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board under the alternative site framework, which would designate the entire county as FTZ 63.

Washington County #255 The Washington County Foreign-Trade Zone is associated with the Baltimore Customs port of entry at the Port of Baltimore. It consists of seven individual sites totaling nearly 1,800 acres. Existing buildings and development ready commercial/industrial sites are available with array of amenities including airport runway access, rail, interstate highway access, municipal water, sewer and natural gas.